RE-RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Siren in the City (Texas Sirens #2)

Siren in the City (Texas Sirens #2), by Lexi Ryan
Publish Date: January 23, 2018
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment LLC
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Jack and Sam married Abby. It was supposed to be for forever, but lately Abby wonders where her alpha male has gone. Jack has retreated and life has become decidedly vanilla. It isn't the true marriage she and Sam wanted. Sam and Abby know the time has come to fight for what they need. A call from his mentor forces Jack to revisit the club where he discovered his sexuality. Jack's half-brother is in the city and interested in a little blackmail. Can Jack handle two defiant subs and a brother in need of some tough love?

Sometimes all it takes to find the way home is a little love and a lot of mischief.

Lexi Blake continues with her Sophie Oak re-dos with the second book in her Texas Sirens series, Siren in the City. It's a continuation of the story we saw begin in book 1 in this series, and although this triad saw a happy-for-now end to Small Town Siren, it was clear that there was more story to tell - especially when it came to Sam and Jack. Any dissatisfaction or longing for more that you might have felt at the end of book 1 is most definitely taken care of it Siren in the City. I liked this one better than the first.

The events at the end of book 1 have affected Jack more than he is letting on to Abby and Sam. As a result, he's taken a much softer, more hands-off approach with them, and that is definitely not what they signed up for. They miss their domineering Master and want him back, so they go to extreme lengths to force his hand. And force it they do. The result is nothing short of explosive and so incredibly satisfying. 

I absolutely loved this sequel to Abby, Jack and Sam's story, not just because of the perfect conclusion to their getting together, but also because we are introduced to new characters that I just know will have starring roles in their own books later in the series. In book 1, BDSM club owner Julian Lodge is mentioned, but we get to spend a significant amount of time with him in book 2, and I am utterly fascinated by this man. He is the main character in book 3 of the Texas Sirens series, so be prepared to want to keep right on reading as soon as you're done with Siren in the City. 

The other new character we are introduced to is Jack's half brother Lucas Cameron. Despite the front he puts up at the beginning, from the moment he came on the scene, I loved this kid. It was clear there was so much more to him than all his blustering at first. I'm a sucker for a broken soul who needs love, and Lucas most definitely fits the bill. Come to think of it - so does Julian. 

Lexi Blake brings her signature sexual fire to this triad, and since 95% of this book takes place in Julian's BDSM club (named The Club), it's even hotter and better than before. And, it wouldn't be complete without a murder plot and some hateful villains, so you get those too. But, there's so much love in this book too. Since Jack, Abby and Sam start out already in love, there's no wooing necessary. This is a book about self-discovery and settling into the roles that make this triad work perfectly and happily. I loved that so much. 

And since Lexi is starting to work these stories into the Masters & Mercenaries world, I thoroughly enjoyed when those familiar characters showed up and stole the show. Ian, Adam and Jake make appearances, and through their dialog, you're able to set a handle on the timeline and how Siren in the City fits into things. But, the absolute best thing is literally watching Sanctum be born right in front of your eyes - in a sense. If you're already a fan of Lexi's Masters & Mercenaries series, this book is an absolute must-read, if only because of that. 

I am completely and totally sold on this series and this world. I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time in it, and can't wait to see what other little M&M nuggets Lexi will plant for us to find. 

RE-RELEASE REVIEW: Small Town Siren (Texas Sirens #1)

Small Town Siren (Texas Sirens #1), by Lexi Ryan
Publish Date: January 9, 2018
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment LLC
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Two cowboys looking for love… 

Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood met in foster care. Over the years, they’ve become best friends and partners. They share a business as cattle ranchers and a house. There’s only one thing missing: a woman to share. The men are sure they’ve found that woman when Abigail Moore arrives in their small town, Willow Fork, TX.

A woman trying to find her place in the world…

Abby left her hometown twenty years before under a cloud of scandal. She’s raised a daughter, forged a new life for herself, and is ready for the next phase when she meets the handsome cowboys.

One small town that’s ready to explode…

They’re a dream come true—Jack is the sexy Dom, and Sam the playful lover. It’s everything she’s ever fantasized about. There’s only one problem. She’s still not welcome in Willow Fork, and someone is willing to kill to keep her away.

Did you know that Lexi Ryan hasn't always written under the name Lexi Ryan? She wrote two full (completely awesome) series as Sophie Oak before Alex McKay and Ian Taggert ever even existed to start McKay-Taggart and the Masters & Mercenaries series. 

Recently, Lexi Ryan was able to re-tool the series she wrote as Sophie Oak and incorporate elements from the Masters & Mercenaries series to bring them all into the same world. The first book she's re-releasing with a brand new cover and added elements is Small Town Siren, and if you've never experienced Lexi Ryan in all her menage glory, this is a perfect place to start.

In Small Town Siren, Abby comes back to Willow Fork, Texas 20 years after being run out of town by the town's rich mayor. She's coming back to care for her sick mother, but as soon as she's better, Abby intends to leave again. The rich people in the town still label her and her mother as trash, and no amount of time will change that. 

However, there have been some new people to move into town who aren't aware of all the drama that happened twenty years earlier. The most notable are Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood, wealthy ranch owners that have spent the past ten years building up their business and wealth so that even the worst people in town can't touch them. Therefore, they don't care one bit about Abby's past or how her reputation could blow back on them - they want her, so they will do what it takes to have her.

I liked that Sam was so eager and Jack so reluctant when it came to her. It was a nice dynamic to start things off - and very satisfying once Jack got on board. And it reminded me very much of another popular Lexi Blake triad that came a few years later in her Masters & Mercenaries series.

Let's face it - a triad relationship is not exactly traditional, and although Abby is a little reluctant at first to take on both men, they quickly are able to convince her it would be worth her while to give it a shot. VERY worth her while. Now - come on. This is Lexi Blake. Even her earlier works were full of so much sexiness and heat - Small Town Siren was absolutely no different and not lacking in the hotness. For the most part, the relationship remains m/f/m for the majority of the book, however, toward the end, the guys finally cross those lines and we start to see some delicious m/m/f dynamics.

Although the drama created in Small Town Siren is wrapped up in an exciting and satisfying way, it's clear that Abby, Sam and Jack's story isn't done yet. Sam and Jack are just starting to explore their physical relationship with each other, and their triad relationship is still so new.

As for this remastered version of this seven year old book, I am SO in love with it. Knowing that Lexi has added elements from her other series, I was on the lookout for them, and that was so much fun. It was like searching for Easter eggs. And these new cover designs are so awesome too.

Everything that I love about Lexi Blake's books are in Small Town Siren. There's danger and drama and even some humor. There's tons of heat and those BDSM elements that she does so well. I loved all three main characters so much and was rooting for them to figure out how to successfully be together. I am so looking forward to the rest of her Texas Sirens series to be rereleased so that I can rediscover them all over again.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Eyes On You (Blasphemy #2.5)

Eyes On You (Blasphemy #2.5), by Laura Kaye
Publish Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc.
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) She wants to explore her true desires, and he wants to watch…

When a sexy stranger asks Wolf Henrikson to rescue her from a bad date, he never expected to want the woman for himself. But their playful conversation turns into a scorching one-night stand that reveals the shy beauty gets off on the idea of being seen, even if she’s a little scared of it, too. And Wolf loves to watch.

In the wake of discovering her fiancé’s infidelity, florist Olivia Foster never expected to find someone who not only understood her wildest, darkest fantasies, but would bring them to life. As Wolf introduces her to his world at the play club, Blasphemy, Liv finds herself tempted to explore submission and exhibitionism with the hard-bodied Dom even as she’s scared to trust again.

But Wolf is a master of getting what he wants—and he’s got his eyes set on her…

Eyes On You is proof that sometimes even the absolute worst date in history can end up being the best thing that's ever happened to you. 

Liv is on the worst date EVER (seriously) when Wolf - who got stood up by his date - saves the day and later lights a fire in her that can't be extinguished. After being made to feel like her desire to watch and to be watched is deviant and wrong and disgusting by her ex-fiance, Liv had buried that part of her. But, meeting Wolf, a man who gets off on the exact same things, completely changes her outlook on sex and intimacy and even love. 

Wolf is a really cool hero. He, along with Isaac, works IT at Blasphemy along with his other Master duties. He's very likable. He's nice and pleasant and dominant in a very non-scary way. From the moment he meets Liv, he's protective of her and wants to help her and shield her from all the bad things. How could you not love that quality in a man?

Liv is in a good place, but Wolf reminds her that things could be better. He makes it okay for her to express her exhibitionist and voyeur desires. And, as the story moves on, he introduces her to the club scene and his friends. I loved that she developed friendships with the other women we've already met in the previous Blasphemy stories. It gave us a good excuse to check up on them and see how they're doing. 

We also met Master Alex, and I have to say, I'm intrigued. I'm hoping he gets the next book in this series. 

Eyes On You is a novella. Therefore, there is a bit of instalove here. Liv and Wolf spend one weekend together, and that's it for them. They know they've found their match, although it takes them a bit longer than that to admit it out loud. But, honestly, given that it's a novella and the story has to move faster than usual, the instalove didn't bother me. I was happy to see this connection forged so quickly. I was happy that there were absolutely no games played between them - no secrets, open communication - it was very refreshing. 

I love Laura Kaye's stories, and Eyes On You was no different. The characters were honest, the sex was hot and the ending was gratifying. 

About Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty book in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink, Raven Riders, and Blasphemy series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Sign Up

REVIEW: The Uninhibited Series

Untamed (Unihibited #1), by Lauren Hawkeye
Publish Date: July 3, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) Celebrity archaeologist Cari Dunn is so over the Georgia heat, the red tape at her dig site, and the threatening messages left on her motel door. She just wants to dig, and the network just wants to keep her safe—with a bodyguard. She can’t complain. Jasper Benjamin radiates raw masculinity that penetrates her to the core and ignites passion she’s never felt. Too bad for him, she's not going to be easy to handle.

Lusting after the bodyguard shouldn’t be so tempting, especially when her life is on the line.

Unbound (Unihibited #2), by Lauren Hawkeye
Publish Date: July 10, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) Celebrity archaeologist Cari Dunn knew an affair with Jasper Benjamin was dangerous. Especially after the sound of shattering glass interrupts what was supposed to be a pleasure-filled night. When the threats against Cari start to stack up and the list of suspects seems higher than ever, Jasper calls for backup. Some very hot and exciting backup. For one night, Cari feels more protected than ever. But if they’re lost in passion, can they see the danger before it’s too late?

Undone (Unihibited #3), by Lauren Hawkeye
Publish Date: July 17, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) Celebrity archaeologist Cari Dunn may have only had a couple of days with bodyguard Jasper Benjamin, but it was enough to completely lose her heart to him. When one suspect after another proves their innocence, the duo find their time running out. After a violent showing from her stalker, Cari is ready for it all to be over, safe in Jasper’s arms. If she makes it out alive, will he feel the same way about her?

The Unihibited serial by Lauren Hawkeye was a story right up my alley. It included a heroine with an interesting job, a dangerous mystery and a big, dominant bodyguard sent to keep her safe. 

It seems like each of the three installments in this serial actually equate to a complete novella, not a full-length novel. I read all three of these, back-to-back, in one afternoon. Each installment is pretty short, but definitely packed with lots of action and steam. When they're all put together, you have an exciting and sexy story with a brave heroine and a no-nonsense bodyguard who definitely knows what he likes. 

In the beginning of the story, we learn that Cari Dunn is an archaeologist with a reality show that has taken her into the deep south. Her dig site has been contested by local Native American groups and a local business man. When threatening messages start showing up at Cari's hotel, her producer hires her a bodyguard until the culprit is found. 

You can tell that Cari is feeling a little disenfranchised with her job. I got the impression that she loves archaeology and history first - the TV show is just a means to an end. She's very independent and is a little tired of being ruled by her network. When her bodyguard turns out to be a big, handsome man who she has an incredible, instantaneous connection with, Cari thinks that maybe she can blow off some steam with him. 

Jasper is a bit of an enigma. At first he seems unaffected by Cari. He's all business - all about her safety. But then things change pretty suddenly between them, and we see what Jasper is like underneath his serious exterior. What he likes in the bedroom seems to complement Cari's personality, so their chemistry is super hot, and their times together are even hotter. Especially when you add in a colleague of Jasper's sent in for backup. 

While Jasper and Cari's chemistry can't be denied, it was a little harder for me to grasp true affection for each other. There was absolutely lust and then trust and respect for each other's abilities. But, I didn't *quite* believe that there was romantic feelings there. Perhaps if there were more pages to establish affection and depth, it would feel better to me. Because I believe they could get there - there just wasn't quite enough time for it here. 

All together, the Uninhibited serial was a great way to spend an afternoon. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & EXCERPT: Wicked Favor (The Wicked Horse Vegas #1)

Welcome back to The Wicked Horse. Check out my review of Sawyer Bennett's amazing spin-off, WICKED FAVOR.

Wicked Favor (Wicked Horse Vegas #1), by Sawyer Bennett
Publish Date: June 5, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) As the owner of The Wicked Horse, an elite sex club located along the Vegas Strip, Jerico Jameson never spends the night alone. Gorgeous, ripped, and totally alpha, Jerico doesn’t grant favors and will rarely give you the time of day—unless he wants you in his bed. So when the sister of his sworn enemy shows up asking for help, saying no should be easy. But when Jerico takes one look at her and sees an opportunity to help this beautiful woman while exacting revenge on her brother, he’s not about to pass that up.

Beaten and bruised, Trista Barnes is running out of options, and Jerico is her last chance to get out of the mess she’s in. She doesn’t know why Jerico despises her brother so much, but as long as he can help her, she doesn’t care. Jerico offers her safety while opening her up to a sinful world she never knew existed.

As she succumbs to Jerico’s erotic charm, Trista lets herself fall into the wicked world of guilt free pleasure with no regrets. Under his strong alpha hand, she blooms, and so does Jerico’s possessiveness. But what happens when Trista finds out she was a pawn in Jerico’s game all along, and that the price for his favor was steeper than she ever imagined – her heart.

I am so glad that Sawyer Bennett chose to not let the Wicked Horse go entirely. What is even better is that she ingeniously created a way to extend her series about a hot sex club, and yet still introduce new characters, situations and scenery into the mix. Welcome to The Wicked Horse Vegas. While the original is still in Wyoming, Bridges's friend Jerico has opened a satellite location on the top floor of a Las Vegas casino. Thus, the Wicked Horse Vegas was born. And thank goodness for that. 

Despite the new location, there were many elements to Wicked Favor that felt like the original series. Of course The Wicked Horse Vegas is a sex club, just like it's namesake. It's very high end and exclusive. The men and women who work there are sexy and confident and emotionally untouchable. Put all that together with the same incredible writing we've come to expect from Sawyer Bennett and the ridiculously hot and sexy situations in which the characters find themselves, and reading Wicked Favor was a little like coming home. 

However, don't fool yourselves into thinking you've read this all before. The club itself is very different from The Silo in Wyoming. I loved reading about the ways it departed from the original - it sounds like an awesome place. But the biggest difference is in the management. Jerico Jameson is a man wholly unique. He's former military and a stellar business man. He takes care of his staff and he knows his way around a woman's body. But, he never ever gives her anything of himself that's substantial and real. He was burned once and that was once too many times, especially when you consider it was his best friend from the service who did the burning. 

So, when his former BFF's sister comes to the club, asking for Jerico's help, he sees an opportunity to exact some revenge. He will put her to work, and work her over, and then send the proof to her brother. Not nice, Jerico.

For Trista's part, she's just trying to borrow some money from Jerico and then pay him off as quickly as possible. She has no idea of the animosity between her brother and the sex club owner. She has no idea she's nothing but a pawn. Man, I loved this girl. She is strong with a capital S - mostly because she goes after what she wants when she sees it. No matter how out of her comfort zone that puts her. 

As you can expect, real feelings develop, and then Jerico is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Does he continue on with his plan? Does he come clean to Trista? And, if he does, will she forgive him? 

I absolutely loved this new start to a familiar series. And I'm so glad that Sawyer Bennett brought us back to this wicked world that I love so much.

She pops her head in first and gives me a tentative smile. “You busy?”

“Not at all,” I tell her as I wave her in.

She disappears for a moment, and then opens the door wider. I see she’s carrying a large, plastic container that’s dome shaped and has a handle on top. My eyes only flick to it briefly before coming back to her. She’s much better to look at.

Shutting the door behind her, she walks up to my desk with a goofy grin on her face and sets the plastic container in front of me. I look down at it, and then up to her. “What’s that?”

“Something I made for you this morning,” she says, unlocking the tabs at the bottom. She lifts the dome top off, and I’m staring at a cake in front of me.

Slowly, I look back up to her. “You made me a cake?”

“Not just any cake,” she says while wagging a finger at me. “A four-layer, homemade red velvet cake with whipped mascarpone icing.”

“Jesus,” I mutter as I look at the cake, wondering what this weird squeezing sensation is in my chest. When I look back up to her, I have to ask her again, “You made that just for me?”

“Just for you,” she says with satisfaction all over her face. “You said it was your favorite, and I had some time this morning after pancakes.”

I push out of my chair and wave a hand at the cake. “You just happened to have all these ingredients, huh? You routinely use something as odd as mascarpone?”

Her grin turns mischievous as she shrugs. “Well, I may have had to go to the grocery store for a few things.”

Jesus fuck. I can’t believe she did that for me.

My mind races over the years, and I can’t remember anyone doing something so randomly nice for me. So spontaneous and with the sole intention of doing it to please me.

Picking up the cake, I round the desk and head for the side door that connects to my kitchen. “Let’s take this next door.”

I don’t miss the disgruntled expression on Trista’s face as she clearly expected me to act differently. I’m sure she was thinking I’d be a bit more effusive in my praise, and I intend to be.

Just… in my apartment.

She follows me through the door as I balance the cake on my hand. I immediately lay it down on my kitchen counter and spin around just as she’s walking through the door, taking her face in my hands and walking right into her. My mouth hits hers. She gives a huff of surprise as I turn slightly and back her into the refrigerator. Angling my head, I kiss her deeply. It’s possible because she angles hers the other way, opening her mouth to give me entrance.

Yes, it’s a deep kiss, but it’s not sexual. It’s a show of unbridled happiness that makes me feel like a kid, or perhaps it’s gratitude that Trista perhaps thinks this is something other than “just sex”.

When I pull away, Trista’s cheeks are pink and she’s slightly panting. She whispers breathlessly to me, “I should make you cake more often.”

The grin that breaks wide is my answer, followed by another swift kiss. Then I’m turning away from her and grabbing a fork out of my drawer. Without any pomp, and certainly no circumstance to wait for a plate, I punch my fork down into the top of the cake and pull a huge chunk out.

“Oh, my God.” Trista giggles as she comes to stand beside me at the counter. I angle toward her as I bring the fork to my lips, open my mouth wide, and shove the cake in. Cheeks bulging and the taste of rich cake and lightly sweet, tangy frosting coating my tongue, I groan in satisfaction. Our eyes stay locked as I chew and chew and chew, and finally swallow the heaven in my mouth. Trista’s eyes are sparkling with humor and a bit of pride.

“Good?” she asks.

I give a swipe of my tongue over my bottom lip to catch some stray frosting there. “It’s amazing. Thank you.”

She beams a brilliant smile as she sets the cake carrier on the counter and turns toward the door that leads back into my office. “You’re welcome. Now… I’ve got to get going.”

“Wait,” I say as I snag her arm and turn her back to me. “You just got here.”

“And my work is done,” she says impishly, going to her tiptoes to give me a quick kiss. “I’m meeting Mom and Corinne for lunch, and I’ve got to get going.”

Well, there goes all thought of spending my afternoon with Trista in bed rather than golfing.

But I’d never begrudge her time with Jolene and Corinne. Their unity right now is extremely important. I do pull her into me and wrap my arms around her waist after throwing the fork into the sink. Trista’s hands come to my chest as she looks up at me curiously.

“Take the night off,” I tell her softly and I have to admit, the way her eyes go warm makes me feel fucking really good. “Make it an entire day and night thing with Corinne, okay?”

“Really?” she asks with sweetest type of surprise in her eyes.

“Yeah,” I murmur as I tighten my arms around her. “I’ll keep myself occupied with the cake tonight.”

Her lips quirking, she gets a playful look in her eyes. “We could… um… FaceTime each other later.”

My eyebrows rise with interest, but I play a little stupid. “FaceTime?”

“Naked. FaceTime.” She annunciates each word slowly, and my dick perks up at this suggestion.

And for a man who has done about every dirty thing imaginable, it hits me hard that this is something new. Something I’ve never done with another woman and now, I’m glad she’s not coming so I can have something new and unique just with Trista.

“What time might you be calling me?” I ask in a husky voice.

“Be ready around eleven,” she says, pressing into me. “Clothing is optional.”

“Wrong,” I tell her with a shake of my head. “Naked is mandatory.”

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | INSTAGRAM

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: The Handy Men

The Handy Men, by Jamie K. Schmidt
Publish Date: May 1, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) Jack and Dean love each other, but they’re missing the woman to complete their triangle. When newly divorced Paige Richards buys a Bed and Breakfast on Hamlet Island and employs them to help her fix the inn up, Jack and Dean are sure they’ve found the one they’ve been looking for. Despite the playful, sexy clues they drop, luscious Paige is reticent about getting involved, even when they set the stage so she can stumble on them in action. They can tell by her responses she wants to join them, but rumors travel fast on the small island, and tales of a threesome could get back to the conservative, family vacation crowd who won’t patronize those with an alternative lifestyle. And the last thing they want for Paige is the B&B’s rooms…and her bank account…to remain empty. But Jack and Dean will stop at nothing to prove to Paige that she can have it all…with them.

The best way to describe Jamie K. Schmidt's THE HANDY MEN is that it's just a good, dirty time. It was a very quick read with lots of dirty talk and even a surprise or two. 

Basically, Jack and Dean are a married couple who are rehabbing a B&B for Paige, a girl who comes from a rich, conservative family. They're looking for a third to complete their triad after their last relationship with a girl went south, and they think Paige is perfect. Convincing her of that, followed by her family and the rest of the island they live on, is the real challenge. And then when the girl from their last triad relationship shows back up wanting them back, things get even more complicated. 

If you have just a few hours and want a quick, dirty read, The Handy Men is perfect for you. It's only 141 pages, so it will go by fast. I read it in one afternoon. It's not overly angsty or drama-laden. There's no twisty plot or convoluted back story here - approach it as pure, sexy escapism, and this will more than check all your boxes. 

There's some hot m/m, m/f and m/m/f action in this book, so you're sure to find something you like. The book isn't very long, so we don't have a lot of opportunity to delve too deeply in the characters' lives, but I learned enough to know that I REALLY liked Dean, I liked Jack well enough, and I thought Paige was a great heroine. Paige has a difficult family and an ex who don't treat her so well, but when diplomacy and politeness doesn't work with them, she does what she has to in order to take control of her life again. Bravo, girlfriend. 

Then there's Jack and Dean. Jack bothered me from time to time, as he seemed less serious about a lasting relationship with Paige than Dean did. When a situation arises with their ex who shows up in town unexpectedly, Jack is shady about it. When Paige finds out on her own, Jack doesn't seem too apologetic or regretful about his actions at all. And Dean's explanation as to why was flimsy at best. It was Dean holding the three of them together, and for that, he gets a gold star.

As expected, the sex was super hot. I would've been disappointed if it hadn't been. So, if you're in the mood for a good time, you've got Jamie Schmidt's number.

USA Today Bestselling author, Jamie K. Schmidt is a hybrid author who has over thirty short stories published in small press and ezines, and a variety of novellas and books online. Her Club Inferno series from Random House has been in Amazon's top 100 ebooks sold and Barnes and Noble's top 10. She has a dragon paranormal romance series at Entangled Publishing. Book one of the Emerging Queens series is The Queen's Wings.

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz in Secondary Education English, which is a fancy way of saying she went to college to teach high school English. When that didn't pan out, she worked as a call center manager, a Tupperware consultant, a paralegal, and finally a technical writer for a major conglomerate company. She is an active member in the Romance Writers of America (RWA). When not writing, Jamie relaxes with a mug of hot tea and knits or makes beaded jewelry. You can reach her at Twitter: @jamiekswriter or at her website www.jkschmidt.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & EXCERPT: The Deep End (Honey #1)

THE DEEP END is almost here, and seriously, you do not want to miss this brand new series starter from the incredible Kristen Ashley. Check out my review and an excerpt from the book today, then buy it tomorrow!

The Deep End (Honey #1), by Kristen Ashley
Publish Date: March 7, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Enter a decadent sensual world where gorgeous alpha males are pleasure slaves committed to fulfilling a woman's every desire. At the elite Honey club, no boundary will be left untested, and one's darkest desires will become a sensual reality.

Olivier isn’t sure what he’s gotten himself into when he joins the Honey Club, only that a dark part of him craves the lifestyle offered by this secret, exclusive club.

When Amèlie invites Olivier to surrender, she pushes him to explore his deepest desires as a submissive. As they grow closer and find themselves falling harder than either of them anticipated, the truth about Olivier’s past could threaten the budding relationship they both long for.

You know that saying, "There's a lid for every pot?" The Deep End is a perfect illustration of this concept. Kristen Ashley introduces us to The Bee's Honey, a BDSM club where you can find a little bit of everything and everyone. Along with the sexiness that one would expect from a book that centers around the goings-on in a sex club is the kind of love and romance that only Kristen Ashley can deliver. 

It wasn't about how someone looked. It was about how they played, their experience and training, their personalities. At the Honey, there were no boundaries, anything went as long as it was consensual.

Amelie is the prima Domme at the Honey. A seasoned veteran, she's had it all - except for the kind of everlasting love that she wants so desperately. She wants a man who craves her domination in the bedroom, but is his own person out of it. She wants a man who challenges her and doesn't always give in immediately to her demands. She loves the thrill of the moment when he submits and especially loves it when that submission doesn't come easily. But, she doesn't want a mindless slave. It's a tall order, and one she is beginning to think is impossible to fill. Until Olivier walks into The Honey. 

Olivier, too, thinks his wish list will be hard to get. He comes to the Honey under slightly false pretenses, having fudged his admission application a bit in order to gain entrance. He's a beast of a man - 6'6", 240 lbs. of muscle, hard earned in his job as a fire fighter. He is an alpha male in every aspect of the word - except he seriously loves being tied up. It's hard to find a woman who not only won't judge him for what he likes in the bedroom, but willingly gives it to him and doesn't question or make light of his manhood. 

Olly and Amelie are absolutely explosive together. They were each adrift in their separate worlds, and when they collide at the Honey, it is hot like you've never seen before. But, if chemistry and sexual compatibility were all they needed to work together as a couple, both in the club and out, they would be set. It's not though - Olly's got two problems. First is the fact that he lied a little on his application for The Honey. Amelie is a stickler for the rules of the club, so she definitely won't approve. And second is the fact that Amelie is filthy rich and Olly isn't. He might submit willingly in the bedroom, but out of it, he's a man through and through. And his woman having way more money than him sticks in his craw. Both of them make mistakes along the way, but that just proves that, despite their proclivities, they're just like every other couple trying to learn how to make their relationship work.

So Amelie was besotted with a beautiful, sweet man called Olly whose last name she didn't know and this thought didn't make her smile fade. No fear clutched her belly. Not that single nerve end frazzled. Because she actually was a thirty-three-year-old woman who was besotted. And for the first time in her life, she was perfectly fine with that. 

While the story centers around Olly coming to grips with his wants and desires and Amelie trying to hold on to her chance of having the kind of forever love she's always wanted, we get to meet a whole new host of side characters that I hope will some day be main characters. The Deep End is gripping and sensual and so incredible. It's got way more sex than I'm used to from Kristen Ashley, but with the way she writes, that's not a bad thing. I loved everything about The Deep End and can't wait for more stories from the Honey.

She turned back to him. “You seem to have a good deal of stamina.”

“Amélie…Mistress, I don’t think you’re getting’ that I seriously find you not hard on the eyes.”

She bent closer, as intended for this part of their session, some of her fair falling on his chest in another caress. She did this letting her amusement show, if not all of the emotion she felt at his compliment.

“I wonder, mon chou, if you think you can butter me up with compliments.”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Though not sure why I’d bother since I didn’t give you one and you just made me shoot a huge-ass load the like that have never come from my cock.”

“And he gives another compliment,” she said through a smile.

“You earn it, I’ll say it, he replied, his lips twitching. “That is, if I’m physically capable of speech.”

She was still smiling when she reached out a hand and delicately traced circles around his nipple.

His eyes darkened.

Her good humor increased.

“You’re of course aware I should do something about you being so audaciously cheeky.”

Another darkness crossed his face. “What?”

“I shouldn’t allow you to be cheeky with me.”

“Cheeky?”

“Impudent,” she explained.

The look fled. “You mean, in uppity, hot-chick speak, a wise-ass.”

Amélie couldn’t help it, she laughed softly.

“She’s got a pretty laugh, too, to go with that pretty accent,” he murmured and she saw his eyes on her lips.

I could get lost in this one, she thought. Lost and never found.

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing's changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Mastering Her Senses (Blasphemy #2)

Laura Kaye is back with another sexy addition to her Blasphemy series - finally! Check out my review, then enter the giveaway!

Mastering Her Senses (Blasphemy #2), by Laura Kaye
Publish Date: February 21, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Quinton Ross has always been a thrill-seeker—so it’s no surprise that he’s drawn to extremes in the bedroom and at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, where he creates sense-depriving scenarios that blow submissives’ minds. Now if he could just find one who needs the rush as much as him…

Cassia Locke hasn’t played at Blasphemy since a caving accident left her with a paralyzing fear of the dark. Ready to fight, she knows just who to ask for help—the hard-bodied, funny-as-hell Dom she’d always crushed on—and once stood up.

Quinton is shocked and a little leery to see Cassia, but he can’t pass up the chance to dominate the alluring little sub this time. Introducing her to sensory deprivation becomes his new favorite obsession, and watching her fight fear is its own thrill. But when doubt threatens to send her running again, Quinton must find a way to master her senses—and her heart.

A new Laura Kaye release is always a good thing. Especially when I know that new book will be full of intense feels, fascinating characters and crazy hot sex. I mean, really. What else do you need in a book?

Quinton interested me from the moment we met him in Hard to Serve. He seemed to be the "happy Master." You know - some Masters in BDSM books are broody and focused. Others are stoic and detached. Then there's the rare few that seem like nice, sweet guys who would be quick with a smile or to laugh. That's Quinton. I think I like those guys the best, because when they turn on the Master, it's usually the absolute hottest, most intense Master ever.

Quinton's specialty is sensory deprivation. Therefore, he's the perfect Master to take on Cassia Locke, a woman who was living the lifestyle before a tragic accident gave her severe PTSD in the form of a paralyzing fear of the dark. She's sick of living like that, and goes back to her club to try and get back her life. Coincidentally, Cassia was supposed to be with Quinton when she had her accident, so she ended up standing him up instead. Now, Cassia has a shot at getting over her fears and Quinton can get some answers.

I absolutely loved Quinton's way with Cassia. He made getting her over her fears his mission in life. He was quick with praise when he knew she had overcome a hurdle, and equally quick with apologies when he realized he had pushed her too far. And when he was in Master Mode, he was so awesome.

Cassia was a really brave woman. She reminded me of Kenna from Bound to Submit (Blasphemy #1) - they were both women who had something tragic happen to them, but were taking charge of their lives by doing what felt good, rather wallow in what felt bad.

Speaking of Kenna, we get a glimpse of her and Griffin here and there, which was fun. And, in an awesome cross-over surprise, we also discover that Cassia Locke is the sister of Jagger, one of the Raven Riders from Laura Kaye's other series. We see a few other Ravens in this book too, and as a fan of both this series and the Raven Riders series, that was a lot of fun for me.

The only reason I gave Mastering Her Senses four stars is, it seemed to end very abruptly. All the loose ends were tied up, true, but sometimes you just need the story to wind down a little. You need a few pages to see the couple being happy and doing their thing to give you this sense of closure and finality, and we didn't really get that here.

But, despite that, I loved everything else about this book. We learn a little more about the other Masters in each book, and I'm looking forward to getting to know them soon.

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Blasphemy, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with herhusband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Sign Up

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Ruthless (Playboys in Love #2)

Gina Maxwell is a brand new favorite of mine, due solely to her Playboys in Love series. I absolutely loved both Shameless and Ruthless, and now they're both out, so you can check them out for yourselves. Read my review to learn more.

Ruthless (Playboys in Love #2), by Gina Maxwell
Publish Date: January 30, 2017
Publisher: Entangled: Scorched
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) People call me Ruthless for a reason.

Whether I’m in the court room or in the bedroom, my reputation is well-earned. I’m either working hard, working out, or working my way into some woman's panties. But none of them share my particular kink, and I walk away feeling unsatisfied.

Until I met her.

She’s a friend of a friend, which makes her off-limits in my book. But then temptation had me by the balls and I had her up against a wall. She literally fucked my world off its axis, but it can’t happen again.

My plan was avoidance, but that got blown to shit when my firm hired her as a new junior attorney. Now I’m her boss, and I’m supposed to act like I don’t want to bend her over my desk every five minutes.

But I’ve never held myself back with anything before, so consequences be damned, it’s time to show her how damn good it feels...to be ruthless.

Oh my goodness - can this series get any better? After reading - and loving - Shameless (Playboys in Love #1), it was a foregone conclusion that I'd be reading Ruthless as soon as I could get my grabby hands on it. I didn't presume to think I'd like it even more. 

Roman "Ruthless" Reeves was introduced in Shameless as one of three BFFs (Chance and Austin are the other two) who all work as strippers on the side and enjoy their own brand of kink. When he's not stripping, Roman is a top-notch lawyer who has earned his nickname by being ruthless in the courtroom.

We also met Addison Paige in Shameless, as she's Jane's BFF and the one who orchestrated Chance's dancing into her life. Now Jane's and Chance's friend circles have blended, which means that Roman has declared Addison off limits, even though he's seriously attracted to her. Addison is my kind of heroine though who doesn't accept that answer and goes after what she wants. It's great thing and it gives them both what they want... until Addison finds herself employed as a junior associate at Roman's law firm. Oopsies.

Have I mentioned how hot this series is? In addition to the boys working through their own issues with love and commitment, they're also searching for women who can accept their brand of kink as well. For Roman, it's menages - specifically, he, Austin and a lucky lady. And, Addison is more than happy to indulge him in that. There are plenty of super hot scenes in Ruthless, which I certainly appreciated.

But, there was also a ton of substance to this book as well. Between their sexual compatibility and the genuinely good time they seem to have together with their clothes on, Roman starts to get freaked out because he likes Addison so much, and in his past, women who he likes try to change him, when he's happy the way he is. Meanwhile, Addison has learned to be second best in all things. No one has ever picked her to be the most important thing. And she's hoping with everything she has that Roman will be the guy that puts her first.

Gina Maxwell is an incredible writer. She includes the perfect blend of funny, sexy (Roman is a fantastic dirty talker), and emotional in her stories so that it's wonderfully balanced. I feel like I got a little bit of everything I needed in Ruthless, which makes for a great book.

We got a little hint at what's to come with Austin's book, and I have a feeling it's going to be extreme. I can't freaking wait.

Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. An avid romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and she’s been living her newfound dream ever since.

When she’s not reading or writing steamy romance novels, she spends her time losing at Scrabble (and every other game) to her high school sweetheart, doing her best to hang out with their teenagers before they fly the coop, and dreaming about her move to sunny Florida once they do.

Connect with Gina:
Author Website: www.ginalmaxwell.com
Author Twitter: @Gina_L_Maxwell
Author Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginalmaxwell
Author Street Team/Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/themaxwellmob
Author Instagram: www.instagram.com/ginalmaxwell
Author Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ginalmaxwell
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446604.Gina_L_Maxwell
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/GLMnewsletter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Shameless (Playboys in Love #1)

Shameless (Playboys in Love #1), by Gina Maxwell
Publish Date: May 30, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Scorched
Format: digital copy, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) People say I'm shameless. They're right.

I like my sex dirty. It takes a hell of a lot to tilt my moral compass, and I always follow when it's pointing at something I want. That goes double when it points straight at the one girl in all of Chicago who's not dying for a piece of me.

She's all I can think about, and that's a problem, because she wants nothing to do with me. But I've seen her deepest secrets, her darkest fantasies, and they match mine to a fucking T.

I want her. Bad.

Now I need to show her how good it can feel...to be shameless.

Reading is one of my favorite pastimes because it takes typical fantasies that most girls have and forms a (hopefully) realistic story around them. It enables readers to put themselves in place of the heroine (or hero) and relive these fantasies in their mind every time they open the book. Fantasies like the prince falling in love with the common girl, the billionaire falling in love with the pauper and... the hot stripper falling in love with his client - they're all ones we've had from time to time, and Gina Maxwell brings the last one to life in amazing ways.

Shameless tripped every one of my triggers. It had a quirky heroine in Jane. Even her name is different. Jane is smart, self-reliant, a workaholic and a closet sexual deviant. A private stripper show from Chance, a.k.a. "Romeo", allows Jane to explore her freaky side and feel okay about it. Even though he's a stranger, she finds safety in his presence, and that release starts to affect all other areas of her life. 

Shameless... What would it be like to let go like that? To not worry about what others might thing and just... be. 

Jane was the perfect blend of dorky, sexy, sassy and sweet. I loved how she was so silly at times, and the banter she enjoyed with Chance and with her BFF Addison made me laugh a lot. But, when Chance flipped his sexy switch, she changed. Her worries about her masters thesis, about her five extra pounds, about her sexual dry spell all fall away. He also switched from the romantic, sweet Romeo to alpha dominant Chance, and he was thrilled to finally meet a woman who matched him in every way that counted. 

This was my first Gina Maxwell experience, and what an incredible experience it was. I love her writing so much! Not only does she tell a really good story, but she does it with flair. I finished Shameless in one day. It was something I just couldn't put down until I reached the end of their story. 

Thankfully, there's a lot of hottie strippers at Playboys 4 Hire, which hopefully means a lot more fantasies to be fulfilled the only way Gina Maxwell knows how. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Bound to Submit (Blasphemy #1)

If it's a Laura Kaye book, I'll read it. A Laura Kaye book with 12 sexy masters who practice BDSM an find love in a crazy awesome club? I'll read it again and again and again...

Check out my review and an excerpt from Bound to Submit. And don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Bound to Submit (Blasphemy #1), by Laura Kaye
Publish Date: October 11, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) From the ruins of an abandoned church comes Baltimore’s hottest and most exclusive BDSM club. Twelve Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy...

He thinks he caused her pain, but she knows he’s the only one who can heal her…

Kenna Sloane lost her career and her arm in the Marines, and now she feels like she’s losing herself. Submission is the only thing that ever freed her from pain and made her feel secure, and Kenna needs to serve again. Bad. The only problem is the Dom she wants once refused her submission and broke her heart, but, scarred on the inside and out, she’s not looking for love this time. She’s not even sure she’s capable.

Griffin Hudson is haunted by the mistakes that cost him the only woman he ever loved. Now she’s back at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, and more beautiful than ever, and she’s asking for his help with the pain he knows he caused. Even though he’s scared to hurt her again, he can’t refuse her, because he’d give anything to earn a second chance. And this time, he’ll hold on forever.

I have to say, the description of Bound to Submit tripped all my triggers. Masters. BDSM. A scarred military hero. A second-chance romance. My only complaint about this book is that it was over too quickly. 

I absolutely loved Kenna Sloane. She was in a serious relationship with Griffin when he told her he wasn't ready to settle down. So, she set off for the Marines, and subsequently war. Where she lost her arm. And now, she's out of the military, but her desire to serve hasn't gone away. So, she's willing to swallow her pride and come crawling back to Griffin, hoping he might be willing to at least give her back the physical part of their relationship. 

THAT had to have been so hard for her to do. Griffin not only broke her heart, but he destroyed her pride. And she now knows enough about herself to know that, if she wants to start to feel like herself again, she needs to be of service. And Griffin can give her that. 

To Griffin, Kenna has always been the one who got away. He realized about two seconds too late that Kenna was it for him, and he has spent the last five years waiting for her. I swear, the moment he lays eyes on her the first time was one of my favorite parts of the book. That, and when he discovered her missing limb. 

There were so many "favorite parts" in Bound to Submit. Watching Griffin bring Kenna back to life. Watching Kenna Help Griffin come to grips with his guilt. I wasn't kidding earlier when I said my only complaint was that it was too short. It's only about 150 pages, which is closer to novella length than novel length. I finished it in just a few, too-short hours. I hope the rest of the novels in this series are longer and delve deeper into the characters stories. Because we met a few more of the masters in this book, and they're all intriguing. 

Later, in the car on the way home, with happiness and two rare cocktails flowing through her, Kenna’s joy made her so damn horny that she couldn’t stop shifting her legs. The second they got in the door of her apartment, she was gonna climb Griffin and ride him until neither of them had bones left in their legs.

“You’re killing me, Kenna,” he said from behind the wheel of the sleek Audi A7.

Her eyes flashed to him. “What?” she asked, though she could hear her arousal in her voice. No doubt he could, too.

“You turned on and it’s driving me insane.” He cut a knowing look her way.

“I can’t help it. You make me want you.”

“Fuck, baby. That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day. Push your pants and panties down and make yourself come. I want to watch. I want to hear you. I want my car to fucking smell like you.”

A thrill shot through her, and she did as he told her. She slid down in her seat and let her knees fall open, and then she touched her pussy, her fingers immediately finding evidence of just how turned on she was.

“Fuck,” he said under his breath. They came to a stop at a light. “Finger yourself for me.” She did, throwing her head back on a moan.

“Christ, Kenna. I don’t know how I’m gonna wait to get in you.” He adjusted the bulge in the front of his jeans.

“Keep touching yourself like that,” she whispered. “Squeeze your cock and think about fucking me while I masturbate for you.” The groan he unleashed added urgency to the sensations spiraling between her legs. “God, Griffin.”

His gaze flashed between the road and her, his mirrors and her, and the road and her again. He turned off the music so that only her breathing and the wet sounds of her hand’s movements filled the luxury sedan.

And then it was all too much. “May I please come, Sir? May I please come?”

“God, yes, Kenna. Come. And know that I’m gonna be on you the second I park this goddamned car.”

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Learn more about Laura --> Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Wicked Bond (The Wicked Horse #5)

It's a bitter sweet thing when a series you loves comes to a close, but WOW. Does Sawyer Bennett know how to close things out with a bang. Check out my review of WICKED BOND, which is Bridger's story - the one we've all been waiting for.

Wicked Bond (The Wicked Horse #5), by Sawyer Bennett
Publish Date: September 13, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Bridger Payne is an enigma that no one can figure out. Wise beyond his years, eerily intuitive and sexy as hell, every woman in The Silo wants him.None can have him.

Not the real man, anyway.

He might wield the lash for you if you ask prettily, but he’ll get no gratification from it. He’ll definitely make you scream, but he won’t think twice about you when he walks away.

Bridger carries the darkest of secrets. He’s filled with too much pain.

He’s utterly untouchable.

Until she came along.

If you’ve been following Sawyer Bennett’s Wicked Horse series even a little, you will be familiar with Bridger Payne, owner and proprietor of both the Wicked Horse bar and the secret super kinky sex club, The Silo, which resides behind it. This character is impossible to miss. He’s larger than life - hot, quiet, intense, complicated and aloof. Bridger is incredibly loyal to everyone he cares about, and he regularly uses his seemingly endless connections to help them. He also seems incredibly emotionally unavailable - heck, not just that, but at times it seems like he just doesn't have any emotions at all.

So, of course, his book is the last in the series, and the one we’ve all be dying to read. Bridger? Finding LOVE? I just knew this was going to be epic. And it SO was.

I already mentioned Bridger’s willingness to help the people important to him - that stems from a very sexy protective instinct that kicks in as soon as he meets Maggie, a woman who was beaten within an inch of her life by some super nasty people. In Maggie, he finds a woman with many of the same qualities as himself - loyal, brave, and selfless. And she has seemingly infinite patience when it comes to Bridger and his moods. She seems like the perfect match for him, except Bridger has a ton of baggage that stems from his truly horrific childhood. And, sometimes I found myself wondering if even the love of a good woman could drag him back from the hell he was living in every day.

I found myself thinking through most of the book that the bad guys were the people that tortured Maggie. And yes - they definitely qualified. But, really, the main “bad guy” was Bridger’s past and the fact that he has never let it go. It has shaped who he is now - a loner who spurns any and all intimacy with women.

The wait for Bridger’s story was a long one, but it was SO worth it. Seeing Bridger uncomfortable was new and exciting and I loved every second of it. Knowing that his discomfort was because of a woman was even better. The unflappable sexy club owner had finally met his match.

And, because Wicked Bond was the last book in Sawyer Bennett’s Wicked Horse series (say it isn’t so!!), we got to see all the previous four couples at different times during the book. If it all has to end, this was a great send-off.

*Note - Wicked Bond is out NOW! So, what are you waiting for? Go get it!!

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Mary’s strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Connect with Sawyer:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennettbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BennettBooks
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sawyerbennett123/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Sawyer_Bennett

Sign up for Sawyer’s newsletter:  http://sawyerbennett.com/signup/

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in Janu

ary 2013, Sawyer Bennett

has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA To

day and New York Times

bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create rel

atable, sexy

stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contem

porary romance, Sawyer

writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Mary

’

s strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two.

When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, styli

st, chef, maid, and personal

assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two ado

rably naughty dogs. She believes

in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great wor

k-out, cake, or a combination of

the two.